Caterpillar has added four Cat skid steer loaders and two Cat compact track loaders to its next-generation upgrades. It also launched its largest CTL: the Cat 285 and 285 XE. Next-gen skid steers include 250, 260, 270, and 270 XE; CTLs include the 275 and 275 XE.
The upgrades follow on the heels of the Cat 255 and 265 CTL updates from last fall and complete the process for this class of loader. They also usher in a new nomenclature for the machines: skid steer model numbers now end in “0,” and CTL model numbers in “5.” toy construction equipment
The 275 and 285 compact track loaders, which incorporate an oscillating undercarriage, now have an equalizer bar (E-bar) designed to increase stability for grading and lifting heavy loads. The company describes the bar, which is connected near the front of each undercarriage rail, as a hybrid. It delivers the benefits of a rigid-style undercarriage design when lifting heavy loads or using heavy attachments, while simultaneously providing the benefits of an oscillating undercarriage when encountering uneven terrain or obstacles.
The bar was designed to optimize the torsion axle suspension system of the CTLs in terms of stability, said Jayesh Menon, product manager. “The problem we were trying to solve here is now you’re lifting higher, you’re trying to move more dirt with the increased capability of the machine,” Menon said. The equalizer bar provides that “maximized performance but doesn’t give up on the comfort” of the oscillation features of the undercarriage.
“That bar has a little bit of give so it does provide the suspension aspect,” he said. “But it’s obviously not a torsion axle system, which is what we have on some of our other products. It provided the right balance between performance and ride quality and comfort.”
Cat 275 XE and 285 XE land management packages include:
Chris Maroun, Miracle Farms Landscaping, described how the E-bar improved stability when loading trucks with heavy loads of dirt or stone. He said the previous CTLs would rock as the machine approached the truck; when pushing dirt, the tracks would come up off the ground.
“These [next gen] machines are 100% stable. I had two granite blocks in the air, moved forward, moved backward; it was perfectly level,” he said. “[When dozing,] the machines have ample power to push through that and keep the tracks on the ground.”
Tyler Watts, Ironside Forestry, runs the land management package on a Cat 285XE.
“It’s carrying a 3,000-pound mulcher around, moving up and down constantly,” he said. “It’s exponentially more stable than any other track loader set up with a mulcher.”
A redesigned engine compartment places the engine and cooling package lower into the frame for improved stability and greater visibility. The four CTLs are powered by the Cat C3.6TA engine. The 250 and 260 skid steers have the Cat C2.8T engine, and the 270 and 270 XE are powered by the Cat 3.6TA. The new engines maintain horsepower across a wider rpm range compared to the previous engines powering the D3 series. The engines also provide more torque: 13% more for the 250 and 260, 35% for the 270, and 50% for the 275 and 285.
All next-gen loaders are vertical lift, which Caterpillar says reflects the move of the market away from radial-lift machines. Increase in lift height, breakout force, and rated operating capacity result.
Their new closed-center auxiliary hydraulic system allows these machines to operate all Cat Smart Attachments with the standard hydraulics provided. Standard hydraulic system pressure increases 5% to 3,500 psi.
Cat 250, 260, 270, and 275 machines equipped with standard hydraulic flow are shipped from the factory outfitted as “High Flow ready.” High Flow functionality is activated simply via a new software enabled attachment (SEA), permitting on-machine or remote activation of increased hydraulic flow to 30 gpm for the 250, 260, and 270 models and 34 gpm for the 275 at standard hydraulic system pressure.
The High Flow XPS factory option increases auxiliary hydraulic system pressure to 4,061 psi for the 250, 260, 270, 275, and 285 models. Hydraulic flow is increased to 30 gpm on the 250, and flow increases to 34 gpm for the 260, 270, 275, and 285 models.
The High Flow option for 270 XE, 275 XE, and 285 XE loaders increases auxiliary hydraulic system pressure to 4,496 psi and flow to 40 gpm.
A larger cab design provides 22% more overall volume and 26% additional foot space. With a 2.75-inch increase in interior width, the new cab expands footwell-to-ceiling height by 1.8 inches, allows for an additional 1.5 inches of hip room, and 1.1 inches more width between the joysticks.
heavy equipment telematics Next generation loaders have low entry points for easy entering and exiting. The operator can now open the cab door without the lift arms being fully lowered to the frame stops. A simplified two-step door removal process allows operators to quickly remove it without tools. The machines’ lower engine mounting, 59% larger rear window and bigger top window providing 15% increased viewable area combine to improve operator visibility.